Photograph by Devyn Glista
This family-owned grocery store makes its own tamales, ceviche, barbacoa, sauces, and more. Boasting fully stocked shelves and competitive prices, you won’t be disappointed with the selection of Hispanic and cultural foods that greet you. For example, it carries packaged nopal (prickly pear cactus pads), which is hard to find at the average store. From ready-made foods to shaved ice, La Providencia will make your bi-weekly shopping experience so much better. ♦ 5259 Glenway Ave, St A., Western Hills, (513) 407-7951
Ahadu International Market
Located at the intersection of Queen City and Boudinot avenues, this quaint corner grocery stays stocked to the brim with pantry staples. Its shelves boast items like salt, coffee, and a wide selection of fine teas, in addition to cookware, tea sets, and myriad East African goods. Be sure to try the injera (a type of spongy flatbread) or the hibist (a fluffy bread that is steamed rather than baked) for a taste of Ethiopian and Eritrean cuisine. ♦ 3098 Queen City Ave., Westwood, (513) 975-0022
Lower Price Hill was a food desert after the 2017 closure of Meiser’s Parkview Market, until it was reopened by Your Store of the Queen City in 2021 as Meiser’s Fresh Grocery & Deli. Today, the market sells everything from fresh produce (most of which is free to customers), dry goods, spices, and snacks as well as cleaning products, home goods, personal and baby care items, and toiletries. Its deli serves sandwiches for breakfast and lunch, it hosts farmers’ markets, and on Tuesdays, it prepares homecooked meals to distribute to the community. ♦ 738 State Ave., Lower Price Hill, (513) 371-5301
Over the last 40 years, three generations of the Hatting family have served the community at this Green Township store. The sizable market offers a full line of produce and all the essentials you’d see at bigger chain grocers, but its full-service deli and meat counter is the star of the show, serving crispy fried chicken and rotating weekly specials, like meatloaf, pot roast, and homemade goetta. ♦ 6148 Bridgetown Rd., Green Twp., (513) 574-8660
Maranata Store
Let the kaleidoscopic window decals of fresh food and produce guide you inside this small but bountiful store. There are only two aisles packed full of fresh ingredients for cooking, but the fruits and vegetables, snacks, drinks, and Mi Costeñita herbs, seasonings, and spices are more than enough to make your meal special. Take a step next door to the butcher’s counter, where you can have your pick of cuts of meat and seafood. ♦ 1215 Rulison Ave., West Price Hill, (513) 244-2494
Merkato Market
Serving the Ethiopian and Eritrean communities in Cincinnati for the last two years, Merkato has fresh meats, including beef and lamb, as well as a variety of Ethiopian beers and freshly made injera, a spongy fermented flatbread that’s the base for many dishes from the east African country. If you’re ready for a culinary adventure, this is your one-stop shop. ♦ 2157 Queen City Ave., South Fairmount, (513) 386-7754
Andreas Grocery
With diverse products and ingredients, Andreas’s creates a space for specialty foods. Stocked with produce like fresh coconuts, vibrant mangos, and ripe limes, and a wide range of imported goods, the shop meets the needs of many shoppers, who are looking to make Mexican staple dishes at home. There’s also a good selection of Mexican sodas and other beverages, giving you everything you need to serve an authentic meal from your own kitchen. ♦ 1881 Westwood Ave., Fairmount, (513) 389-9278
La Canasta
This grocery store/restaurant combo offers a variety of beloved Mexican dishes like tacos, tortas, and burritos made with fresh ingredients for customers. Alongside ready-to-eat dishes, you’ll find a large selection of fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and dry goods. ♦ 7812 Colerain Ave., Colerain Twp., (513) 931-1804
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